The Shang Army's generals were baffled, and so were those of the Zhou Army, though the latter had a few more reasons to worry.
Ji Fa was especially troubled. He simply could not understand how King Zhou had suddenly collapsed when their conversation had been going perfectly well.
And he had even shouted something as vicious as, "Ji Fa has harmed me!"
Ji Fa was not concerned about whether King Zhou's condition was genuine or feigned. He was concerned about the damaging consequences of those words.
Why had King Zhou drawn such criticism? Because he had disrespected ritual and law and slighted the nobles and feudal lords. He had killed the Tu Fang Leader during alliance negotiations, then killed Marquis Li and the Marquis of the South when they came to pay homage, violating the established rules of the social hierarchy.
And what of Ji Fa? He proclaimed that he acted in Heaven's name, which naturally made him the one who sided with the nobles and observed the "rules." Yet this supposedly rule-abiding man had struck a treacherous blow before both armies, during a meeting between their leaders.
However tyrannical King Zhou might be, he was still the ruler of a nation, the King of Shang, an equal of the Son of Heaven of Zhou. Fighting him was acceptable, but it had to be an honorable fight. Was resorting to such a petty trick while his opponent let down his guard during a meeting not exactly the same as what King Zhou had done before?
Moreover, the Zhou Army's main force had marched slowly precisely to display its military might and intimidate the western feudal lords. Most of those lords had already submitted, but the current situation would inevitably stir fresh doubts in their hearts once word reached them.
Everyone